Packaging machine



- Oct. 19, 1937. G. l. HOHL ET AL 2,096,277

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT R5 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 19, 193.7. a. HOHL ET AL PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS {76K 1965? (6%9/112/6026) geo I ATTORNEY.

Oct 19, 937. e. I. HOHL ET AL 2,096,277

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet s 2 I I I INVEN R.

A EY- Oct. 19, 1937. G. I. HOHL ET AL.

PACKAGING MACHINE -5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 12, 1936 lNV ENT OR.

BY I afl ATTORNEY.

Oct. 19, 1937. G, HOHL ET AL 2,096,277

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 19, 1937 Il oi zsazn PATET OFFICE PACKAGING MACHINE George I. Hohl, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Harry L. Evans, Newport, R. I., assignors to Cartoning Machinery Corporation, Newport, R. I., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 12, 1936, Serial No. 84,860

23 Claims.

' This invention relates, generally, to automatic packaging machinery; and the invention has reference to improvements in machines for assembling andinserting articles into receptacles, such as papercartons or the like, and more particularly, to a novel automatic machine for collecting and assembling a desired number of superimp'osable, fiatarticles, such e. g. as enveloped razor blades, and thereuponinserting and enclosing the an in.

same within a box, carton or like receptacle or enclosure.

Automatic packaging machines of the kind to which the present invention relates, ordinarily M comprise mechanism for successively delivering and expanding collapsed cartons, means to collect, assemble and insert the articles into the cartons, and means to close the cartons. The present invention deals with those portions of such maq chinery which perform the operations of col- I 20" lectingand assembling the articles from a source of supply thereof, and thereupon inserting assemblies comprising a given'nurnber of said articles into the cartons; and, as a consequence of this, illustration and description of the means for delivering, expanding and closing the cartons, with the exception of the carton conveyor per se, have been omitted from the accompanying drawingsand from this specification.

This invention has for its principal object to' 3 5 provide, in combination, a novel construction and arrangement of cooperative means for collecting the articles to be packaged, arranging the same in assemblies each containing a given number thereof in superimposed relation, and there- 3i upon inserting these assemblies into the cartons or receptacles within which the same are to be enclosed.

The invention has for another object. to provide a plurality of pneumatic pick-up drums and 4ba corresponding plurality of magazines to supply.

the articles to said drums, together with novel means for controlling the movement of the articles from'the magazines to the drums.

The invention has for anotherobject to pro- 4% vide in combination with the pick-up drums an 1 article collecting and assembling conveyer runnmg' transversely across the, drums so as to re- I ,ceive' the articles from the latter, and, by the combined operation of the drums and conveyor,

to arrange said articles within, the conveyor pockets in assemblies containing a givennumber thereof; novel 'means being provided for stripping the .articles'from the drums and for inserting the stripped'articles into the conveyor pockets. r "Other objects of this invention are to provide novel means cooperative with the pick-up drums for detecting a faulty article or the omission of an article from its proper place upon a drum, and to further provide means cooperative with the article collecting and assembling conveyer for 5 detecting an assembly of articles faulty in condition or defective in number.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:--

Fig. 1 is a partial end elevation of those portions of the packaging machine which involve the novel features of construction, arrangement and mode of operation involved in the present invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing the cooperative relation of a magazine and a corresponding pick-up drum, with the means for controlling the movementof an enveloped blade from the former to, the latter as disposed in normal initial position andwith the magazine lowered nonfeeding position; Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the operation of the blade feeding or control means; Fig. 5 is also a similar view, showing further operation of certain elements of the blade feeding or control means; Fig. 6 is also a similar View, showing the magazine in elevated blade discharging position; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line 'i'! in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is adetail vertical section, taken on line 88 in Fig. 2, the same showing the pneumatic control" valve and suction means of a pick-up drum said view being drawn on a somewhat enlarged scale. Fig, 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing a blade transferor strippingmeans cooperative with a pick up'drum and also showing the means for delivering a stripped blade to the collecting and assembling conveyers; Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the operative free end portion of a blade trans- 45 fer or stripping means; and Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view of the cam for actuating the primary detector mechanism of the machine. I

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring tothe drawings, the reference character I indicates a platform or bed plate which is a partof the frame-work or supporting structure of the machine. Upstanding from said plat- 5 form or bed plate are a pair of longitudinally spaced apart standards 2. Journaled in and extending between said standards 2, at the upper rearward portions thereof, is a suitably actuated longitudinal drive shaft 3; andralso journaled in and extending between said standards 2, forwardly of and parallel to said drive shaft 3 is a cam shaft 4, driven by gearing 3--4' from drive thereof, is a pick-up drum shaft 5. Fixed on said shaft 3. Journaled in and extending between said standards 2, at the upper forwardportions shaft 5, so as to be revolved thereby, area plurality of longitudinally spaced apart pick-up drums 6. Any suitable number of such pick-up drums may be employed, but preferably there are five of the same, as shown in Fig. 2. Shaft 5 is continuously driven, so as to revolve said pick-up drums, by means of suitable transmission means which is preferably actuated by and from drive shaft 3 through cam shaft 4 which is geared thereto. Illustrative of one means for so actuating said shaft5 and pick-up drums 6 is a, chain and sprocket transmission 1 running between cam shaft 4 and said shaft 5, as shown in Figs.

1 and 2.'

Each pick-up drum is provided at circumferentially spaced points along its perimeter with somewhat projecting concave suction cups 8, which are made of suitable resilient'material such as rubber; each such cup having an axial stem or butt 9 countersunk into the pick-up drum body,

said stem or butt having an axial bore Ill) extending outwardly therethrough into communication with the interior of the cup at the bottom of its concave face. Extending radially inward from each suction cup and in communication with the stem bore I 0 thereof is a passage or duct II, which terminates at its inner end in a port I2 opening outwardly through the hub face of the pick-up drum. Mounted on shaft 5 in cooperative relation to the hub portion of each pickup drum and at the side thereof in which said ports I2 are disposed in an annular row, is a pneumatic control valve body I3. Said valve bodies I3 are held stationary, i. e. against rota- 1 tion with said shaft 5, so that corresponding pickup drums will revolve relative thereto. Any suitable means forholding the valve bodies I3 thus stationary may be provided, as e. g. by the anchor-arms I l extending therefrom and secured to tie-bars I5 suitably affixed to a stationary part.

of the machine frame-work. Each valve body I3 in its pick-up drum abutting face with an arcuate suction channel or duct I6 and with an arcuate up drum adjacent to the trailing side of each suction cup 8 thereof is an indented or notch-like space 2|, the purposes of which will subsequently be set forth. In the arrangement of the pick-up drums, as shown, each drum is provided with six suction cup means spaced about its perimeter'at sixty degree intervals; it will be understood how-- ever that such number is subject to variation, and that more or less than six saidsuction cupmeans may be provided, if desired. Secu ed, topand extending upwardly fromv said plurality of magazines 24.

standards 2 are rearwardly inclined bracket bars 22. Journaled in and extending between the upper-free end portions of said bracket bars 22 is a magazine fulcrum shaft 23 for pivotally mount a ing, subject to controlled vertical oscillations, 2. These magazines 24 are of upwardly open trough or chute-like form, and correspond in number to the number of pickup drums with which they respectively cooperate.

The magazines 24 incline downwardly at an ape proximate angle of thirty degrees from a horizontal plane, and their free lower end portions terminate adjacent to the pick- -up drums. Supported by and between said standards 2, intermediate the pick-up drums 6 and the free end portions of said magazines 24, is a bridge bar 25. The magazine facing side of said bridge bar 25 is provided, for cooperation with each magazine, with a group of vertically. extending guide channels (see Fig. 7 comprising a central guide chanmagazine is provided with corresponding'groups of projections or'tongues at its free end to enter and ride in said channels, the same comprising a central projection ortongue 29 projecting from the magazine bottom, and projectionsor tongues 30 extending from the magazine sides. The stop ledges 28, when engaged by said projections or tongues 29-30, limit the downward movement of the magazines, whereby the latter are disposedin a non-feeding position.

Illustrative of the use and operation machine of this invention, the articles to be packaged are shown to comprise envelopes in each of which is enclosed a safety razor blade. For

of the 20 nel 25 and side guide channels 21, at the lower r ends of which are magazine stop ledges 28. Each convenience of description, the thus enveloped safety razor blades will be hereinafter generally referred to as blades, which expression will be understood to mean units each consisting of a safety razor blade as enclosed Within arprotecting envelope, which is the common method of ham-- dling the blades for commercial distribution.

A'quantity of blades 31 are stacked within each magazine in upstanding position, within the trough or chute-like interior thereof, and when the magazines are in lowerednon-feeding posi-- tion, the lower ends of the columns or stacks of blades will abut the rearward face of said bridge bar 25, which thus sustains the weight thereof.

To prevent outward displacement of the blades 3| from the magazines, each magazine is'provided with an overhanging; guard'or top plate 32,

which is supported from the magazine body by means, of a carrying bracket 33, or in any other suitable manner. I

Means is provided for periodically lifting or r I swinging upward themagazines 2:3,. toblade feeding position, whereby a segregated small quan tity of blades 3| aredelivered onto. the. topof the bridge bar 25, and thus in position tobe suced at the inner sidesbftha standards. 2: for rear,- 1

ward extension beneath the magazines. magazines are provided. intermediate. their endsand attheir under sides with bearing knuckles 35 through which extends a cross-head shaft .35

common thereto? Links 31 interconnect the. ends of said crossehead shaft 35 respectivelywith; thefreeends of the respective lift-levers 34. Mountthereby, are magazine oscillating earns 38, prefered on said cam shaft 4,,so as toabe actuated ably one adjacent toeach lift lever 34. Each cam 38 is provided with a suitably shaped cam race, 39, in which rides the roller stud it of the corresponding lift lever 34. The earns 38 are so arranged as. to properly time the rise and fall movements of the magazines relative to the revolution of the suction cups 8 carried by the pickup drums.

Means are provided for retaining the segregated groups of blades 3| supported away from the path of movement of the pick-up drum suction cup-s B, said means being operative to trans fer the groups toward the pick-up drums when a suction cup 8 is properly aligned or opposed thereto ready to receive a blade to be gripped. thereby. This means comprises a rock-shaft M which is journaled in and which extends between said standards 2 beneath said cam shaft 4. Fixed on said rock-shaft 'll, in such arrangeme it that a pair thereof are disposed in straddling relation toeach pick-up drum for extension upwardly across the outer face of the bridge bar 25, are detent levers 32. The upper end portions of said detent levers d2 engage and support the segregated group of blades 3 l delivered onto the h bar 25, and projecting rearwardly from so tent levers 62, into slots or openings provided in the front face of said bridge bar for the reception thereof, are blade supporting lugs which are substantially flush with the upper surface of said bridge bar. The means for effecting t arm and a cam G 5 mounted on cam shaft t. Said earn it is provided with a cam. race i"! are side plates 4%, which serve to retain the blades 3| against lateral displacement when deposited and supported upon the bridge bar In the operation of the machine, the piclnup drums revolve in anti-clockwise direction. Prior to the arrival of a suction cup 8 in a. position opposed to the segregated group of blades 3! supported on the bridge bar 25, the detent levers occupy their initial inwardly swung position, whereby the same press back said group of blades so asto hold the outermost blade well clear of the moving pick-up drum and the approaching suction cup 3 (see Fig. 3). When the approaching suction cup 8 passes above the bridge bar 25 and in opposition to the blades 3! supported 1 i. e. toward the pick-up drum, whereby the channel or duct it with an exhaust pump (not shown) is exerted by: said suction cup 8 upon said blade thus carried into contact therewith, so that the continuous revolving movement of the pick-up drum operating to move onward the blade contacted suction-cup 8, causes the latter to slide upwardly and away from the segregated group 'of blades said engaged outermost blade.

" In order to prevent any of the group ofsegreoperation of said detent levers. comprises a lever gated blades except the suction cup contacted outermost blade from accompanying the movement of the latter, means is provided for engaging the top of the group of segregated blades so that the. outermost blade may be stripped therefrom, said means being movable to engage the face of the outermost blade as it is pulled away in such manner as to prevent any tipping or tilting thereof which might tend to separate or release it from the grip of said suction cup. This means comprises a bar 5E) to extend across the upper rear sides of said pick-up drums 6 and above the groups of segregated blades, said bar 59 being mounted for oscillation toward and from said pick-up drums by links 5| pivotally connected with the standards 2. The means for causing properly timed oscillatory movements of said bar 50, comprises a lever arm 52 pivotally mounted on said rock-shaft M as a fulcrum. Said lever arm 52 is provided with a roller stud 53 which is operatively engaged by a lever arm actuating cam .54 driven by cam shaft 4. Spring means 55 connected with said lever arm 52 yieldably holds the latter and its roller stud 53 in operative engagement with said cam 54. Said bar 5b is provided with a knuckle. 5% whereby the same is operatively connectedthrough link 57 with the free end portion of said lever arm 52. Carried by said bar 58 in cooperative relation with each pick-up drum and the corresponding blade magazine mechanism, are dependent stripper pieces 58 having laterally spaced forwardly projecting nosings 59 and 60, the right hand nosing 59 preferably projecting-slightly beyond the left hand nosing, so that, when the stripper pieces 58 are retracted to normal initial position, and the group of segregated blades are outwardly moved by the detent levers 42 in position to engage the outermost blade, the tops of all the blades of said group, except the outermost blade, will underlie said stripper pieces and at least said nosing 59, so that as the outermost blade is gripped by a suction cup and started upwardly and away by revolving motion of the pick-up drum, all the remaining blades of the group will be restrained from any tendency to following movement (see Fig. 4). As the suction cup gripped blade continues to slide away from the segregated group of blades, said bar 50 and the stripper pieces 58 carried thereby are swung outwardly or toward the pick-up drum, thus pressing the stripper pieces 58 against the gripped blade, so as to hold the same firmly against the suction cup 8, and in resistance to the pressure of the remaining blades .of the group which otherwise might tend to so tip or tilt the gripped blade as to risk possible accidental release thereof from the suction effect of the engaging cup (see Fig. 5). Such holding eifect of the stripper pieces continues until the gripped blade is separated free and clear from the segregated group of blades, whereupon said stripper-pieces are returned to normal initial positions by the operation of the actuating means therefor.

Between the time that a blade has been gripped and removed by one suction cup of each pick-up drum, and while succeeding suction cups of the latter are moving to positions for the reception of blades, the magazine elevating means is timed to raise the magazines into registration with the top of said bridge bar 25, so that the columns of blades carried by the magazines are brought into aligned registration'with the deposited segregated groups of blades supported by said bridge bar. By

gravitate toward said segregated blade groups so.

that blades will be replaced in said groups to compensate for the blades carried away by the pickup drums (see Fig. 6). After this operation is effected, the magazines are again depressed to lowered normal initial positions. It will be obvious, that by reason of this operation of the blade magazines, the weight of the columns of blades therein is removed'from the segregated groups of blades from which the pick-up drums collect and carry away the blades, and consequently risk of displacing the engaged blades of a considerable weight of blades is avoided. Owing to the dovetailedrelation of the magazines to the bridge bar 25, separation of the columns of bladesin the magazines from the segregated groups of blades deposited on the bridge bar, upon movements of the magazines relative to the latter, is assured, and occurs without risk of jamming or disturbing the operative relation of said blades to either the bridge bar or magazine. v

As the pick-up drums B revolve, the blades picked up by the suction cups 8, as the latter pass the described blade magazines and blade feeding mechanisms, are carried around by the drums, and the gripping suction effect of the cups 8 is maintained since the ports 52 and passages i E serving the latter continue to travel in communication with the arcuate suction channel or duct l6 of the pneumatic control valve (see Fig. 8). As the gripped blades are carried outwardly and downwardly, the same are caused to travel beneath and subject to the operation of a detector or tester mechanism, which by engaging the same test the same to determine the assured pressure of a blade within each enveloping wrapper by which it is enclosed. If a blade is present within the wrapper, it is allowed to pass on, but in the event an empty wrapper is presented beneath the detector or testing mechanism, the latter will be actuated to close an electrical circuit, which will energize suitable means (not shown) whereby the machine. is brought to a stop and cannot be started again until an attendant replaces the detected empty wrapper with one properly containing a blade.

This detector or testingmeans comprises the following mechanism:-

Suitably affixed to the forward upper end portions of the standards 2 are upstanding bearing posts 6!. Journaled in and between the upper ends of said bearing posts iii is an oscillatable shaft 62, thus disposed to extend across and above said pick-up drums Affixed to said shaft 62 is an actuating lever arm E53. Fixed on the cam shaft 4 is a detector means actuating cam 64 having a race 65 which is engaged by a roller stud 66' on the forked'end iii of a con necting rod 68, the outer end of the latter being pivotally joined to said lever arm 63 (see Figs. 1 and 11). Loosely pivoted on said shaft 62 to overhang the pick-up drums is a depressor frame, comprising side arms t? between which ex'-- tends a depressor bar "iii. One of said side arms 69 is provided with a rearwardly extending tailpiece to which is connected one end of a pull spring 72, the opposite of which is anchored to an anchor lug l3 aihxed' to one of said bearing posts 6i. Loosely mounted on said shaft t2 as a fulcrum,'by means-of. fulcrum blocks M are a plurality of detector arms it, the same being aligned above and corresponding in number to the'number of pick-up drums E. i The forwardly extending portions of thesedetector arms 15 are disposed above said depressor frame and across" the depressor bar 19 thereto; the sameare pro vided with adjustably mounted push-pins H5 adapted at proper times to engage and depress said depressor bar 16. V outwardly of each side of the group of detectorarms 15 are rearwardly extending lever arms Ilto and between the free ends of which is aflixed a cross bar l8 which extends beneath and across the r'earwardly extending portions of said detector arms 15. Extending loosely through the rearward endportion of each detector arm 15 is a stud 19 having a head 8!! at its upper end to engage said 'detectorarm, and having its lower. end affixedto said cross-bar 18. A compression spring 8! is mounted. around each stud 19 between the cross-bar l8 and the rearward ends of the detector arms, thus establishing yieldable connections between these parts. The free ends of the forwardly extending portions of said detector arms- 15 are provided'with depending feeler fingers 82 adjustably mounted in connection therewith. These feeler fingers 82 project toward the perimeters of the respective pick-up drums 6. Qne of the bearing posts 6| is provided with .a

forwardly and downwardly projecting bracket arm 83. Aifixed to said bracket arm 83 so as to be rigidly supported thereby is an electrical switch 34 having an upwardly presented exteriorly projecting push button 85 for actuating the switch contained therein. One of the side; arms 68 of the depressor frame is provided with" an extension 85 which is disposed above and across said switch box 84. tension 58 is an adjustably mounted push pin 81 which is aligned with said switch push button $5, so that upon depression of said depressor frame said push pin 8? will be carried into operative actuating engagement with said switch push button 85. Means is provided for retaining said depressor framein switch closing position once it has been moved thereto.

is pivotaliy mounted upon a lateral extension of said bracket arm 83. At its upper free end, said latch element 88 is provided with a latch nosing 69, which normally presses against the side of said side arm extension 35 adjacent to the latters Carried by said exv This means comprises a spring actuated latch element 88 which 1 free end. When said extension 8 6 is swung downward by depression of said depressor frame,

said latch nosing 89 will'swingover the upper side of said extension 8t, thus locking down the depressor frame in switch actuating position until the latch element is manually released.

In the operation of the machine, the abovedescribed detector or testing mechanism functions as follows i As the suction cup gripped bladesSl are carried beneath the feeler fingers 82, and so disupwardly the lever arms 11 and cross-bar [8 carried thereby, and thereby transmits through the compression springs 8| a downward swingmcvement to the forwardly extending por tions of said detector arms 15. 'Such movement;

of said detector arms 15 carries the ,feeler fingers 82 into engagement with the underlying blades;

If. such-underlyingblades comprise envelopes.- or wrappers having their'p'roper blade contentjithel blades will bridge across the indented or notchlike spaces 2I, and the relatively unyielding blades will resist such downward movement of the feeler fingers 82, and consequently the detector arm movements will be arrested, and the further upward movement of cross-bar I8 will be absorbed by the compression springs 8|. In such case, the movements of the detector arms are arrested before any depressing effect thereof upon the depressor frame is produced sufiicient "in amplitude to carry the-push-pin 81 into actuating contact with the switch push button 81. If, however, any one of the blade envelopes or wrappers is empty, the downward movement of the feeler finger 82 engaging the same will not be opposed or resisted, since such empty wrapper or envelope will collapse under the pressure so that the feeler finger may force the same downwardly into the underlying indented space 2|. The additional downward swinging movement of the detector arm I5, consequent upon this condition, is sufficient to cause its push-pin I6 to engage and thrust downwardly the depressor bar 10, whereby the extension 86 of one of the depressor frame side arms 69 is swung downwardly, against the tension of its normally uplifting pull spring 12, far enough to carry the push-pin 81 into actuating engagement with the switch push button. ,85, thereby closing the switch, and through the means actuated by the switch controlled circuit, causing the operation of the machine to be immediately stopped. As said extension 86 of the depressor frame swings down to switchactuating position, its upper margin passes beneath the nosing 89 of latch element 88, whereupon the spring tension exerted upon the latter swings the same so as to engage said nosing over the extension 85, thus holding the depressor frame against return to normal initial position and thereby locking the same in switch closing position. By reason of this the machine attendant must manually release said latch element before the machine can be restarted, and consequently his attention will be called to the necessity for replacing the detected empty blade envelope or wrapper with one properly containing a blade, which, of course, he will proceed to do before restarting the machine. By this means the proper assembling of desired numbers of blades for insertion into an enclosing box or carton is assured. It will be understood that the above described operations periodically recur as each suction cup gripped blade passes the detector mechanism.

Suitably mounted to run transversely across and beneath the pick-up drums 6 is a blade collecting and assembling conveyer means. This means comprises spaced supporting sprockets 90, the axle shafts SI of which are journaled in suitable bearing members 92 supported upon the platform or bed-plate Running over and between said sprockets 90 is an endless chain 93. Aflixed to said chains, at interval spacing corresponding to thespacing of said pick-up drums 6, are transverse trough-like blade receivers or upwardly and endwise open pockets 94. Said conveyer means is so driven as to operate with intermittent motion, whereby a period of dwell of the receivers or pockets 94 in alignment with and beneath the pick-up drums occurs during which blades advanced by the pick-up drums 6 may be de tached therefrom and delivered into the receivers or pockets 94. Any suitable means (not shown) may be employed for so actuating the blade collooting and assembling conveyer, such e. g. as a Geneva gear transmission operated from a suitable continuously driven shaft of the machine, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention appertains.

Cooperative with each pick-up drum is a blade stripping or transfer means, by which a blade is stripped from the pick-up drum and lowered into aligned relation with a receiver or pocket of the collecting and assembling conveyer, means cooperative with said stripping or transfer means being provided for thrusting the stripped blade from the latter and thence into an awaiting receiver or pocket of the conveyer. To these ends the following mechanism is provided. J ournaled in and between the standards 2 to extend back of the pick-up drums 8 and beneath cam shaft 4 is a rock-shaft 95 to which is affixed an actuating lever arm 95. Fixed on the cam shaft 4 is a blade stripper actuating cam 91, the race of which is engaged by a roller stud 98 on the forked end 99 of a connecting rod I00, the free end of which is pivotally joined to said lever arm 96 (see Fig. 9). Also mounted to extend between said standards 2 above said rock-shaft 95 is a fulcrum shaft IOI. Pivotally mounted on said fulcrum shaft IOI are a plurality of stripper arms I62, the same being aligned with and extending respectively adjacent to the undersides of the respective pick-up drums 6. Secured to the forwardly extending portions of each stripper arm I02 to project forwardly therefrom in laterally spaced apart relation are a pair of stripper plates I03, the free end portions of which are horizontally bifurcated to provide outwardly open inwardly extending blade receiving slots I04. v

Secured to the outer faces of said stripper plates I03 are side or keeper plates I05 which border the outer sides of said blade receiving slots I04. The outer free end portions I06 of said side or keeper plates I05 project beyond the outer extremities of said stripper plates I03, and are preferably somewhat laterally flared. The spaces between said stripper plates I03 are so dimensioned that the peripheral portions of the pick-up drums with which they cooperate may pass therebetween so as to be straddled thereby when the stripper arms I02 are in normally upraised blade receiving positions. Also fulcrumed on said fulcrum shaft IUI, in correspondence with each stripper arm I02; are rearwardly extending actuating levers I 01 which extend beneath the rearwardly extending portions of said stripper arms I02. Extending loosely through the rearward end portion of each stripper arm I02 is an adjusting bolt I 08 having a head I09 at its upper end to engage said stripper arm, and having its lower end threaded into a cooperating actuating lever I07. A compression spring H0 is mounted around each bolt I08 between the stripper arm rear end and said actuating lever. Adjustably mounted on each actuating lever I0! is a fulcrum block I II. Fixed on the rock shaft 95 for cooperation with each actuating lever I0'! are rocker arms IIZ which are respectively interconnected by links II3 to the fulcrum blocks III of the respective actuating levers I01 by which they are served.

In the operation of the blade stripping or transfer means, as revolution of the pick-up drums carries the suction cup gripped blades beyond the detector mechanism and to positions at the undersides of said drums, the stripper arms I02, as the blades approach the same occupy their normal initial raised positions with their stripper plates I03 straddling the peripheries of the drums, and with the blade receiving slots I04 at such level that the side marginal portions of the blade may enter into said receiving slots I04 (see Fig. 2 and full line representation in Fig. 9). As the blades advance and fully enter said receiving slots Hi l, and between the keeper plates Hi5, which hold the same against lateral displacement relative to operative engagement thereof by the stripper plates I03, the ports I2 of the passages ll serving the suction cups 8 carrying such blades, having ceased to communicate with the suction channels or ducts IE of the pneumatic control valves, move into communication with the suction relief channels or ducts ll of the latter, whereby communication with the atmosphere is established between said blade gripping suction cups 8 and the preceding suction cups of the drums, which have been previously relieved of the blades carried thereby, so that the same and their passages and ports are open to the atmosphere, and consequently the inrush of air through said latter cups, passages and ports and thence through suction relief channel or duct I'I into the blade gripping cups and their passages and ports, immediately relieves or breaks the suction effect or grip of the latter upon the blades (see Fig. 8), and said blades are released so as to be held merely by the embrace of the gripper plates I03. By the time these operations are accomplished, the actuating cam 9'1 is timed to impart, through the above described motion transmitting devices, downward swinging movements to said stripper arms Hi2, whereby the blades are carried downward and presented endwise to the blade receivers or pockets 94 of the collecting and assembling conveyer,- which at such time has to rest for a dwell period of sufficiently long duration to admit of insertion or transfer. of the stripper arm carried blades thereinto (see dotted representation of the stripper arm arrangement shown in Fig. 9). thrusting the blades out of the embrace of said stripper arms and into said conveyer receivers or pockets, comprises a suitably located and journaled rock-shaft IM to which is affixed a rocker arm IE5. Fixed on the cam shaft l is a blade pusher actuating cam M6, the race of which is engaged by a roller stud I I1 carried by a suitably pivoted actuating lever IE8. Interconnected between said actuating lever II8 and said rocker arm H5 is an adjustable link H9. Fixed on said rock-shaft I I4, for correspondence and cooperation with each stripper arm I02, are oscillatable levers H26, equippedat their upper ends with up-standing push fingers I2I which respectively enter between the stripper plates I33 of said stripper arms I02, when the latter are lowered, being thus disposed behind the blades carried by said stripper arms (see Fig. 9).

While the stripper arms I02 are lowered and movement of the collecting and assembling conveyer is arrested to present its receivers or pockets 94 for blade reception, the operation of .the actuating cam I I0 is timed to cause forward swinging movement of said levers I20, thereby causing the push fingers I2I to engage the adjacent blade ends so as to thrust the same outwardly from the embrace of the stripper arms I02 and thence into the awaiting conveyer receivers or pockets 0 3.

In the machine as disclosed by the accompanying drawings to illustrate the construction and novel mode of operation involved in the instant invention, five pick-up drums 6 are shown, each The means provided for of which simultaneously delivers", through the above described transfer mechanism, a single.

blade at a time respectively to five conveyer re:

' ceivers or pockets alignedtherewith. Upon each delivery of a blad-einto a pocket, and pending the delivery of a next succeeding blade, the collecting and assembling conveyer is advanced one step. As a consequence of this a given conveyer receiver or pocket 94, being initially aligned with the first pick-up drum. on the left, receives one blade therefrom; whereupon said receiver or,

pocket 94 is advanced to align itself with the second pick-up drum and thereupon receives a sec ond blade therefrom; thence to the third drum to receive a third blade; thence to the fourth drum to receive a fourth blade; and finally to the fifth drum to receive a fifth blade. In this manner as a given conveyer receiver or pocket 94 passes beyond the last drum, it carries. with it an accumulation of five blades ready to be entered into an enclosing carton. In View of the fact, that the blades are thus successively piled up within the conveyer receivers or pockets 94 as the latter successively move from drum} to drum, the downward oscillation or throw of the successive stripper arms I02 must beprogressively diminished so as to hold the blades lowered thereby at proper levels to slideover and upon the blades previously deposited in'the said receivers or pockets 94. purpose may be made by positioning the fulcrum blocks II I of the actuating levers I0! to increase Adjustments for such or decrease the leverage exerted on the stripper 7 arms to that calculated to arrest a given stripper arm in a desired selected lowered position. 1

Slight adjustments of the stripper arms I02 relative to the means for actuating the same may be made for the purpose of precisely aligning the receiving slots I04 of the gripper plates I03 in the path of movement of blades advanced thereto by the pick-up drums. Such adjustments may be made by tightening down or relaxing the adjusting bolts I08, the compression springs IIO absorbing the movement, and being sufficiently strong to imp-art the motion of the actuatinglevers I0I to the stripper arms I02.

It will be understood that the actuating cams controlling the magazine and blade feeding operations, the blade testing or detecting operations, the blade stripping or transfer operation have a speed ratio to pick-up drum revolution equal to the number of suction cups carried by the drums.

It will also be understood that the ratio of movement of the pick-up drums relative to the step by step intermittent movement of the collecting' and assembling conveyer may be suitably arranged according to the numberof blades to be collected into a group for deposit in a carton. In the above description the arrangement is such that the movement of the pick-up drums is timed to deposit one blade during each period of conveyer receiver or pocket dwell. This may.

speed, and the speeds of associated mechanisms,

relative to the conveyer speed, so that two blades will be deposited during each period of conveyer Groups containing.

up drum suction cups. For example, groups of six blades may be collected by operating the pickup drums as last above described, i. e. so as to deposit two blades during each period of conveyer receiver or pocket dwell, and thereupon blocking or stopping off every other suction cup of the first four drums, so that the first four drums will each deliver but a single blade during pocket dwell but the last or fifth drum, being eiiective as to all of its suction cups, will deliver two blades, thus accumulating six blades in each conveyer receiver or pocket As the blade collecting and assembling conveyer moves the blade filled receivers or pockets 94 thereof beyond the last drum, and prior to the positioning of said receiversor pockets ready for the ejection of the collected and assembled blades therefrom and delivery thereof into an awaiting carton, as will be subsequently described, a second blade testing or detector means is provided for engaging each group of blades so as to determine that the same contains the proper number of blades desired to be delivered to and enclosed within a carton. This second detector means comprises a standard I22 supported upon the platform or bed plate 5 adjacent to the inner side of said blade collecting and assembiing conveyer. Vertically reciprocable upon said standard I22 is a carriage I23. Mounted on said carriage I23, subject to vertical adjustment relative thereto by means of an adjusting screw I24 which is rotatably journaled in an outwardly offset projection E25 with which said carriage I23 is provided, is a carrier block I26 into which said adjusting screw I24 is threaded. Said carrier block I 23 is provided with vertically spaced and aligned forwardly offset bracket lugs I2l which overhang the top side or" said blade collecting and assembling conveyer. Slidably mounted through said bracket lugs i2! is the stem I28 having a feeler finger means I2? at its lower free end. Suitably supported in a sta tionary position adjacent to said carriage E23 and its carrier block E26 is an electrical switch box I30 having an upwardly presented exteriorly projecting push button I3I for actuating the switch contained therein. Secured to the stem I28 of said feeler finger means I29, above the lower of the two bracket lugs I21, is a laterally extending arm I32, the free end portion of which overhangs said switch box I33. Adjustably affixed through the free end portion of said arm I32 is a depending push pin I33 which is aligned with and normally spaced above said switch box push button I3. A compression spring I34 is arranged around said stem I28 between said arm I32 and the upper of the two bracket lugs i2]; said spring yieldably maintaining said feeler finger means I29 in normal downwardly projected position. Suitable means (not shown) are provided for producing a downward movement of. said carriage I23 and the feeler finger means carried thereby during each period of dwell of the blade receivers or pockets 95 registered beneath said feeler finger means.

In the operation of the machine, said second detector or testing mechanism functions as follows:

As a conveyer receiver or pocket 94, containing a collected and assembled group of blades, passes beyond the last pick-up drum 6, and comes to rest during a period of conveyer dwell, the actuati ng mechanism for said second detector or testing means operates to slide downwardly the carriage I23 and the carrier block I26 mounted thereon, whereby to press downwardly upon the group of blades contained in said receiver or pocket 94 the feeler finger means I29. If there is a full quota of five blades in said receiver or pocket 96, the downward movement of the feeler finger means will be arrested on contact therewith and will yield upwardly against the compression of the spring 53% as the carriage and carrier continues downward to completion of its operative down stroke. Such arrest of the feeler finger means stops the downward movement of the arm i322 its push pin 533, the latter being thus also arrested before it can contact with and actuate the switch box push button I3I. If, however, the receiver or pocket 94 contains less than five blades, the fecler finger means its will be permitted to move down far enough to contact and actuate the switch box pushbutton iBi so as to close an electrical circuit controlled thereby, thus energizing suitable means (not shown) whereby the machine is brought to a stop until the attendant fills up the quota of blades within the deficiently filled conveyer receiver or pocket to the required number.

Mounted upon said platform or bed plate I in front of said blade collecting and assembling conveyer. is a carton carrying conveyer I35. This carton carrying conveyer runs parallel to the blade collecting and assembling conveyer, with the pockets 536 thereof, by which the empty cartons it? are embraced, disposed in end to end alignment with the blade receivers or pockets $4 of said blade collecting and assembling conveyer, and, of course, said carton carrying conveyer is operated with the same intermittent movement and at the same speed as said blade collecting and assembling conveyer.

At a suitable point advanced beyond the pickup drums and said second detector or testing mechanism, means are provided into operative alignment with which is arrested each blade containing receiver or pocket 9% of the blade collecting and assembling conveyer and a corresponding empty carton containing pocket I36 of said carton carrying conveyer which means is timed, by suitable actuating mechanism, to thrust the group of blades out of the receiver or pocket 94 and into the awaiting empty carton I31 (see Fig. 1). This means comprises a suitable support I38 mounted upon said platform or base plate I in which is slidably arranged a reciprocable plunger element I39, the operative end-I48 of which is aligned with the position of rest of the aforesaid conveyer pecltets. Intermediate said arrested conveyer pockets is a suitably supported slideway I ii leading from the blade collecting and assembling pocket dd to the pocket I35 of said carton carrying conveyer i355. While the conveyers and their said pockets are at rest, a suitably timed actuating lever M2, which is connected with said plunger element HQ, slides the same forward, thereby carrying its operative end Hill into engagement with the group of blades in the blade collecting and assembling conveyer pocket so as to slide the same endwise out of said pocket, across said siideway Idi, and into the empty carton E 3? combined in the pocket of the carton carrying conveyer, and thereupon withdrawing back to normal initial position. In this way, the blade groups are successively entered in successive cartons, whereupon the carton carrying conveyer I35 carries on the filled cartons, to submit the same to suitable carton closing mechanism, after the operation of which the filled and closed cartons are discharged from the machine.

apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the herefollowing claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim: a

1. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums: each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around the perimeters thereof, blade supporting means adjacent to the rearward side of said drums, a corresponding series of pivoted blademagazines inclined toward said drums, means to produce timed vertical oscillation of the discharge ends of said magazines relative to said blade supporting means thereby to deliver and maintain groups of blades upon said supporting means and segregated from the main supply of blades contained in said magazines, and detent means to hold said segregated blade groups normally out of contact with said drums, and means to produce timed movement of said detent meansto carry said blade groups toward said drums when suction cups of the latter are in blade receiving position, thereby to permit said cups to grip and remove the outermost blades of said groups.

2. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around the perimeters thereof, blade supporting means adjacent to the rearward side of said drums, a corresponding series of pivoted blade magazines inclined towardosaid drums, means to produce timed vertical oscillation of the discharge ends of said magazines relative to said blade supporting means thereby to deliver and maintain groups of blades upon'said supporting means and segregated from the main supply of blades contained in said magazines, and detent means to hold said segregated blade groups normally out of contact with said drums, means to produce timed movement of said detent means to carry said blade groups toward said drums when suction cups of the latter are in blade receivingposition, thereby to permit said cups to grip and remove the outermost blades of said groups, and means to retain all but said cup gripped blades against displacement from said blade supporting means.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, blade supporting means adjacent to the rearward side of said drums, a corresponding series of pivoted blade magazinesinclined toward said drums, means to produce timed vertical oscillation of the discharge ends of said magazines relative to said blade supporting means to deliver and maintain segregated groups of blades upon the latter, timed means to move said blade groups toward said drums when suction cups of the latter are in blade receiving position, thereby to permit said cups to grip and remove the outermost blades of said groups, a blade collecting and assembling conveyer to run beneath said drums, and means to strip blades from said drums and deliver the same to said conveyer.

4. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, blade supporting means adjacent to the rearward side of said drums, a corresponding series of pivoted blade magazines in-'- clined toward said drums, means to produce timed vertical oscillation of the discharge ends of said magazines relative to said blade sup-porting means to deliver and maintain segregated groups of blades upon the latter, timed means to move said blade groups toward said drums when suction.

cups of the latter are in blade receiving position,

thereby to permit said cups to grip and remove V for the reception of blades from the latter, and

1 means for transferring the blades from the blade conveyer into said enclosures.

5. In a machine of the kind described, a. series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, each drum having suction ducts leading to, said suction cups, a stationary pneumatic valve means for each drum having suction control means served by suction inducing means into and out, of communication with which said suction ducts move and suction relief means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts likewise move, means for supplying blades to each suction cup of each drum as said cup moves into communication with the suction control means serving its drum, an intermittently actuated blade collecting and assembling conveyer having pockets to successively receive blades from each drum to assemble in said pockets blade groups of predetermined number, means for stripping the blades from' each suction 'cup of each drum as said cup moves into communication with the suction relief means serving its drum, and means for depositing the thus strippe blades in said conveyer pockets;

6. In a machine of the kind described, a. series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, each drum having suction ducts leading to said suction cups, a stationary pneumatic valve means for each drum having suction control means served by suction inducing means 1 into and out of communication with which said i suction ducts move and suction relief means into.-

and out of communication with'which said suction ducts likewise move, means for supplying blades to each suction cup of each drum as said lecting and assembling conveyer adapted to carry and position enclosures for the reception of said blade groups, and means for transferring said cup moves into communication with the suction '55 blade groups from the blade conveyer into said I enclosures '7. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, each drum having suction ducts leading to said suction cups, a stationary pneumatic valve means for each drum having suction control means served by suction inducing means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts move and suction relief means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts likewise move, means for supplying ,blades to each suction cup of each drum as said machine in the event a blade has been missed by a pick-up or is defective, means for stripping the blades from each suction cup of each drum as said cup moves into communication with the suction relief means serving its drum, and means for depositing-the thus'stripped blades in said conveyer pockets.

'8. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, each drum having suction ducts leading to said suction cups, a stationary pneumatic valve means for each drum having suction control means served by suction inducing means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts move and suction relief means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts likewise move, means for supplying blades to each suction cup of each drum as said cup moves into'communication with the suction control means serving its drum, an intermittently actuated blade collecting and assembling conveyer having pockets to successively receive blades from each drum to assemble in said pockets blade groups of predetermined number, means cooperative with said pick-up drums for testing blades carried thereby prior to delivery thereof to said collecting and assembling conveyer, said testing means being operative to initiate stopping of the machine in the event a blade has been missed by a pick-up drum or is defective, means for stripping the blades from each suction cup of each drum as said cup moves into communication with the suction relief means serving its drum, and means for depositing the thus stripped blades in said conveyer pockets, a conveyer parallel to and synchronously actuated with said blade collecting and assembling conveyer adapted tocarry and position enclosures for the reception of "said blade groups, and means for transferring 1 said blade groups from the blade conveyer into said enclosures.

9. In a' machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, each drum having suction ducts leading to said suction cups, a stationary pneumatic valve means for each drum having suction :control means served by suction inducing means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts move and suction relief means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts likewise move, means for supplying blades to each suction cup of each drum as said cupmoves into communication with the suction control means serving its drum, an intermittently actuated blade collecting and assembling con- .75 V

lieyer, having pockets to successively receive blades from each drum to assemble in said pockets blade groups of predetermined number, means cooperative with said pick-up drums for testing blades carried thereby prior to delivery thereof to said collecting and assembling conveyer, said testing means being operative to initiate stopping of the machine in the event a blade has been missed by a pick-up drum or is defective, means for stripping the blades from each suction cup of each drum as said cup moves into communication with the suction relief means serving its drum, and means for depositing the thus stripped blades in said conveyer pockets, a conveyer parallel to and synchronously actuated with said blade collecting and assembling conveyer adapted to carry and position enclosures for the reception of said blade groups, means for transferring said blade groups from the blade conveyer into said enclosures, and a second testing means cooperative with said blade collecting and assembling conveyer for testing the blade groups prior to transfer thereof into said enclosures, said second testing means being operative to also initiate stopping of the machine in the event a blade group contains less than the proper number of blades.

10. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, each drum having suction ducts leading to said cups, a stationary pneumatic valve means for each drum having suction control means served by suction inducing means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts move and suction relief means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts likewise move, a blade supporting means adjacent to the rearward side of said drums, a corresponding series of pivoted blade magazines inclined toward said drums, means to produce timed vertical oscillation of the discharge ends of said magazines relative to said blade supporting means to deliver and maintain segregated groups of blades upon the latter, and detent means to hold said blade groups normally out of contact with said drums, and means to produce timed movement of said detent means to engage blades from said groups with presented suction cups of said drums.

11. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, each drum having suction ducts leading to said cups, a stationary pneumatic valve means for each drum having suction control means served by suction inducing means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts move and suction relief means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts likewise move, a blade supporting means adjacent to the rearward side of said drums, a corresponding series of pivoted blade magazines inclined toward said drums, means to produce timed vertical oscillation of the discharge ends of said magazines relative to said blade supporting means to deliver and maintain segregated groups of blades upon the latter, and detent means to hold said blade groups normally out of contact with said drums, means to pro duce' timed movement of said detent means to engage blades from said groups with presented suction cups of said drums, and means to retain I all but said cup gripped blades against displacernent from said blade supporting means.

12. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved 'pi'ck up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, each drum having suction ducts leading to said cups, a stationary pneumatic valve means for each drum having suction control means served by suction inducing means into and out ofcommunication with which said suction ducts move and suction relief means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts likewise move, a blade supporting means adjacent to therearward side of said drums, 'a corresponding series of pivoted blade magazines inclined toward said drums, means to produce timed vertical oscillation of the discharge ends of said magazines relative to said bladesupporting means to deliver and maintain segregated groups of blades upon the latter, anddetentmeans to hold said blade groups normally out of contact with said drums, means: to

produce timed movement of said detent means to engage blades from said groups with presented suction cups of said drums, means to retain all but said cup gripped blades against displacement from said blade supporting means, an intermittently actuated blade collecting and assembling'conveyor running across and beneath said drums, and means to strip blades from said drum and deliver the same to said conveyer, said conveyor being adapted to accumulate blades successively from each drum to produce unit groups thereof of predetermined number.

13. In a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums each having blade gripping suction cups spaced around their perimeters, each drum having suction ducts leading to said cups, a stationary pneumatic valve means for each drum having suction control means served by suction inducing means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts move and suction relief means into and out of communication with which said suction ducts likewise move, a blade supporting means adjacent to the rearward side of said drums, a corresponding series of pivoted blade magazines inclined toward said drums, means to produce timed vertical oscillation of the discharge ends of said magazines relative to said blade supporting means to deliver and maintain segregated groups of blades upon the latter, and detent means to hold said blade groups normally out of contact with said drums, means to "produce timed movement of said detent means to engage blades from said groups with presented suction cups of said drums, means to retain all but said cup gripped blades against displacement from said blade supporting means, an intermittently actuated blade collecting and assembling conveyer running across and beneath said drums, means to strip blades from said drum and deliver the same to said conveyer, said conveyer being adapted to accumulate; blades successively from each drum to produce unit groups thereof of predetermined number, a carton conveyer parallel to and synchronously actuated with said blade conveyer, and means for transferring said blade groups from the blade conveyer into the cartons carried by said carton conveyer.

H. In amachine of the kind described as defined in claim 13, means cooperative with said drums 'efiective to cause stopping of the machine if any drum suction cup fails to carry a blade.

' 15. In a machine of the kind described as defined in claim 13, means cooperative with said blade conveyer effective to cause stopping of the machine if *any' blade group carried bysaid con veyer lacks a proper number of blades.

16. In a machine of the kind described as defined in claim 13, means cooperative'with said drums effective to cause stopping of the ma chine if any drum'suction cup fails to carry a blade, and additional means cooperative with the blade conveyer also effective to cause stopping of the machine if any blade group carried bysaid conveyer lacks a proper number of blades.

17. In a machine-of the kind described, a revolved pick-up drum having blade gripping means spaced around the perimeter thereof adapted to successively take up bladesfrom'a source of supply thereof,'and means to successively strip said'blades from the drum, said latter means comprising a'stripper arm oscillatable toward and from said drumysaid'strippe'r arm I having laterally spacedstripper'platesto straddle said drum, said stripper plates having outwardly open longitudinal slots into which'the blades are carried by said drum, and means to'hold the entered blade against lateral displacement groups thereof of predetermined number, pivoted stripper arms oscillatable between said drums and conveyer, said stripper arms having laterally spaced slotted stripper plates to straddle said drums and into the slots of which blades are carried by said drum, means to hold said blades against lateral displacement relative to said stripper plates, and means to transfer blades from the stripper plates'into said conveyer pockets when the stripper arms are moved from said drums toward said conveyer.

' 19. In 'a machine of the kind described, a series of simultaneously revolved pick-up drums having blade gripping means spaced around their perimeters and adapted to successively take up blades from a source of supply thereof, an intermittently actuated blade collecting and assembling conveyer having blade receiving pockets running across and beneath said drums, said conveyer being adapted to accumulate blades successively from each drum to produce unit groups thereof of predetermined number, pivoted stripper arms oscillatable between said drums and conveyer, said stripper arms having laterally spaced slotted stripper plates to straddle said drums and into the slots of which blades are carried by said drum, means to hold said blades against lateral displacement relative to said stripper plates, means to transfer blades from the stripper plates into said conveyer pockets when the stripper arms are moved from said drum toward said conveyer, means for producing oscillations of said stripper arms timed to the movements of said drum blade gripping means relative thereto, and means for individually regulating the oscillation amplitude of said stripper arms.

20. In a machine of the kind described, a revolved pick-up drum having article gripping means spaced around the perimeter thereof, article suporting means adjacent to the drum perimeter, a pivoted article magazine inclined toward said supporting means, means to produce timed oscillation of the discharge end of said magazine relative to said supporting means thereby to de- 7 liver upon the latter a group of articles segregated from the main supply thereof contained in the magazine," a detent means to hold the segregatedarticle group normally out of contact with e said drum, means to produce timed movement of said detent means to carry the article group toward the drum and the outermost article thereof into engagement with an article gripping means of the drum, and means to retain all but the means spaced around the perimeter thereof, article supporting means adjacent to the drum perimeter, a pivoted article magazine inclined toward said supporting means, means to produce timed oscillation of the discharge end of said magazine I relative to said supporting means thereby to deliver upon. the latter a group of articles segregated from the'main supplythereof contained in W the magazine, a detent means to hold the segregated article group normally out of contact with said drum, means to produce timed movement of said detent means to carry the article group towardthe drum and the outermost article thereof into engagement with an article gripping means of the drum, means to retain all but the gripped article against displacement from said support ing means, and means to produce timed movement of said last mentioned means toward the drum after movement of the gripped article is initiated thereby to engage and hold said gripped article against displacement from the gripping means, and until said gripped article is entirely freed from contact with said segregated group thereof.

22. In a machine of the kind described, a series of laterally spaced drums simultaneously rotatable about a common axis, said drums having blade pick-up and carrying means spaced around their perimeters, said pick-up and carrying means of each drum being adapted to successively take up, blades from sources of supply thereof respectively provided for each drum, an intermittently actuated blade collecting and assembling conveyer running beneath and transversely of said drums, said conveyer having blade receiving pockets successively spaced thereon in correspondence to the spacing of said drums, said conveyer being adapted to accumulate blades successively from the drums so as to collect in the pockets thereof unit groups containing a desired predetermined number of blades, oscillatable means intermediate said drums and conveyer adapted to release blades from the drums, and a second oscillatable means to transfer blades from the latter means to the conveyer pockets.

23. In a machine of the kind described, a series of laterally spaced drums simultaneously rotatable about a common axis, said drums having blade pick-up and carrying means spaced around their perimeters, said pick-up and carrying means of each drum being adapted to successively take up blades from sources of supply thereof respectively provided for each drum, an intermittently actuated blade collecting and assembling conveyer running beneath and transversely of said drums, said conveyer having blade receiving pockets successively spaced thereon in correspondence to the spacing of said drums, said conveyer being adapted to accumulate blades successively from the drums so as to collect in the pockets thereof unit groups containing a desired predetermined number of blades, oscillatable means intermediate said drums and conveyer to release blades from the drums, a second oscillatable means to transfer blades from the latter means to the conveyer pockets, a second conveyer means moving synchronously with and parallel to said collecting conveyer, said second conveyer having blade carton supporting pockets correspondingly spaced and aligned with the collecting conveyer pockets and timed means'to transfer blade groups from said collecting conveyer pockets into said blade cartons.

GEORGE I. HOHL.

HARRY L. EVANS. 

